Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urging him to initiate necessary steps to withdraw 20 percent customs duty on Gobindobhog rice — an export quality, fragrant rice produced in Bengal — to ensure that farmers of the state get good value for their produce.

“Unfortunately, Government of India has imposed 20% Customs Duty on rice vide notification no. 49/2022 dated 8.9.2022. As a result of which the export business of the premium Gobindobhog variety, developed through years of efforts, has been badly affected with negative impact on the demand and domestic price of the paddy, and hence on the income of the farmers,” the chief minister wrote in her letter.

Mamata pointed out that the Centre has exempted Basmati rice from customs duty.

“It is appreciated that Basmati, another popular high value aromatic rice variety has been exempted from the 20% Customs Duty. It is, therefore, requested on the same logic by which Basmati has been exempted , the premium aromatic variety Gobindobhog rice should also be exempted from such 20% Customs Duty on export at an early date to avoid loss of business and depriving benefit to our farmers,” the chief minister wrote.

The chief minister also wrote that the demand for Gobindobhog rice was growing in countries in the Gulf region such as the KSA, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Sources in the agriculture department said that this particular variety of rice is mainly cultivated in the north Bengal districts. In Bengal households, this variety of rice is used to make delicacies such as payesh and pulao.

The chief minister’s initiative will help about 5-7 lakh farmers who cultivate this particular variety of rice, said a senior official.